Posted on 12/22/2005 12:58:28 PM PST by Abathar
MIAMI -- The parents of a 6-month-old baby who died after being fed an unorthodox raw food diet were given suspended sentences and probation Thursday for child neglect convictions involving their other four children.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Stanford Blake also ordered Joseph and Lamoy Andressohn to adhere to a host of conditions if another judge approves reunification of their family, including regular visits to a pediatrician and a nutritionist, a parenting course and a prohibition against home schooling.
"I don't care about your diet, but the (recommended) diet of the children must be followed," Blake said.
The judge imposed five-year suspended sentences on both parents, to be followed by 15 years each of probation. He also lifted a "no-contact" order that had prevented the Andressohns from seeing their children for more than two years.
"If it comes to my attention that something has happened, that you've done something that is not in the best interests of your children, you will go to prison for five years," Blake told the Andressohns.
They could have been sentenced to as much as 20 years in prison, but Blake approved a defense lawyers' motion for a downward departure from sentencing guidelines over the objections of prosecutors. The chief prosecutor on the case, Herbert Walker III, said he was "disappointed" in the sentence and will appeal Blake's downward departure ruling.
The jury that convicted the Andressohns of child neglect acquitted them of manslaughter in the May 2003 death of 6-month-old Woyah, who was fed only wheat grass, coconut water and almond milk. The Andressohns believe in a diet of raw, uncooked foods.
Woyah weighed only 7 pounds when she died and the other four Andressohn children also were underweight, prosecutors said. They have been living with a relative since the infant's death.
Joseph Andressohn called the judge's sentence "a miraculous outcome" and that he looked forward to reunification of his family. The Andressohns also have an infant baby girl who was born after Woyah's death.
"We love our children dearly and we want to see them as quickly as possible," he said.
Defense attorneys and expert witnesses contended that Woyah's death may have been caused by a rare disease called DiGeorge syndrome, in which a person is missing the thymus gland necessary to produce a healthy immune system.
just ridiculous! people who cannot meet their own
childrens basic needs for health and safety do not
need to be the ones raising them. what they did is
abuse/neglect at it's worst!
They're a freak show.
Impossible situation the courts are just not well suited to fix.
And why, pray tell, didn't mother's milk qualify???
Erm,
Check out my home page....
The couple with the baby are
a. Conservative.
b. Republican
c. Christian
d. Very healthy
e. Traditional (stay at home Mom)
f. Very happy.
and Vegan.
So is the other brother (Who's now retired at 40 and vacationing in Mexico as I type...I hate him ;) ;) )
I've never met one yet that doesn't throw it in your face and put on that "holier than though" attitude. I usually then order anything I can rare and make them watch me eat it.
"And why, pray tell, didn't mother's milk qualify???"
Odds are that the kooky mother was unable to produce her own milk, due to malnutrition.
Vegetarians can live very healthy, long lives. A healthy vegetarian mother produces ample supplies of milk for her infant.
These folks are nutcases, and all their children should be removed from their home until the age of 18.
What is almond milk??? Last I checked, almonds don't have nipples.
They should be sterilized. Period.
Almond milk is a blend of water and almonds, blended until smooth. It's a very decent, protein-rich drink, but unsuitable for infants.
Any vegan or strict vegetarian mother needs to breastfeed her infants. That way, they will get a proper start. Once they are weaned, it is possible to raise healthy youngsters, even on a vegan diet, but it's a lot of work.
Kids hate strict vegan diets. Regular non-meat, non-dairy vegetarian diets work out pretty well for kids, who generally like them pretty well.
There's no need to trash vegetarians or vegans. They can be healthy and active. And they're all not moonbats. However, this couple are idiots for not breastfeeding this infant.
"I've never met one yet that doesn't throw it in your face and put on that "holier than though" attitude. I usually then order anything I can rare and make them watch me eat it."
I know a number of strict vegetarians, and a few vegans. They're all devout Buddhists. They throw nothing in anyone's face, nor do they try to convert anyone to either their beliefs or dietary choices.
They're among the finest people I've ever met, and live in a way that would put most self-professed Christians I've met to shame.
They're all pretty much apolitical.
My SIL is breastfeeding my niece. And yes, she and my brother have been Vegan for almost 8 years now.
The baby is healthy, meeting all her growth expectations and is extremely bright and happy (OK, so I'm biased). They're also very educated and are extremely careful to make sure she gets a wide variety of foods. The vegans I know personally are all like that. But the key is they're all serious and well educated in what they're eating.
The only time my niece has had sugar was her cake on her first BD.....her wild-eyed, two-fisted gusto at the time proved she shared my genes >:>
"My SIL is breastfeeding my niece. And yes, she and my brother have been Vegan for almost 8 years now.
"
I looked at your page. They all look very healthy. Serious vegans and other vegetarians are healthy folks, for sure. It's the flaky folks who "try" these diets as fads who end up ruining their health.
Still, you can count on them being called names here by folks who don't know a darned thing about these dietary choices.
I'm not a vegan or any sort of vegetarian. I'm a classic omnivore. I certainly don't condemn anyone's dietary choices, though.
My Buddhist friends come to my home once a year for a feast I prepare for them. I researched the meal for months, to come up with a feast that would not only meet their dietary rules, but that would taste wonderful. I change it each year. It's much appreciated, and I enjoy doing it, since I love to cook for groups.
The menu is completely vegetarian, with dishes from all the major centers of Buddhism. Fun!
They never talk about their diet with anyone unless asked. And eating out you can't tell because they know which restaurants are vegan friendly. It's not that big of a deal.
They're in town all next week and cooking for them is fun. They do catch a bit of heck from some of our older relatives who will literally walk up to them with a chicken leg and shove it in their faces saying "I can't believe you don't want to eat this!" (erm well, no--- not when you're being an azz about it).
NY Eve will be vegan at my house (OK, so cooking ham for the family members who can't live without it). But really, it's not that hard. Lots of veges, sweet potatoes, blackeyed peas, cornbread etc :)
On a buffet, we all have freedom of choice ;)
"NY Eve will be vegan at my house (OK, so cooking ham for the family members who can't live without it). But really, it's not that hard. Lots of veges, sweet potatoes, blackeyed peas, cornbread etc :)
"
Sounds yummie. I might have to have a bit of ham, but there it is. I'm an omnivore.
There are some terrific vegan cookbooks out there. Maybe you'll get one for Christmas. You never know.
And blackeyed peas....one of my favorites. If you can't season them with ham, try cooking some whole garlic cloves, oregano, and rosemary with them. Don't crush the garlic, but leave it in when you serve the blackeyed peas. Lots of folks will gobble up the garlic cloves too, and the smell is fantastic. If your family likes spicy food, you can put a couple of small red peppers (not too hot) in with the peas, but I'd remove them before serving.
Another cool thing for blackeyed peas are the multicolored sweet peppers they sell now in the supermarket. They don't look like bell peppers but more like jalapenos. They're not hot at all. I slice them across the pepper into thin rings, then add them to dishes like blackeyed peas. The color and texture of the peppers is generally very well-liked.
You're a great friend!!!!
Like you, we're classic omnivores in our house, but meals with out meat or dairy do occur fairly frequently, particularly in the summer when fresh produce is in abundance....mmmmmmmmmmm grilled veggie..I'm getting hungry :)
That would have been just "fine and ducky" according to abortionists AND THE SUPREME COURT.....but this is abominable because the child is 6 months old?????? LOGIC PLEASE?????
I didn't. I kid vegetarians - and my vegetarian friends kid me for being a bloodthisty carnivore. I could care less what anyone else eats, respect all vegetarians (except the PETA extremists), and cook vegetarian foods for them when I host parties. I simply borrowed a humorous line from Lewis Black about soy milk, 'cos I never heard of almond milk.
I agree with all your comments on health and vegetarianism. I myself get plenty of protein from egg whites, and should probably replace more meat that way. (Bit more hesitant on strict veganism - the few truly healthy vegans, and especially raw-foodists, all seem to have websites advertising how healthy they are.)
The parents in the article, however, deserve a lot more than to be made fun of for not breastfeeding their infant. Nutrition courses should be a condition of their probation.
"I'm getting hungry :)
"
Yeah...me too. I think I'll head upstairs and make a start on supper. Margherita Pizza tonight.
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